As soon as I saw the cover, I just knew I had to read this thriller. And it turns out my coverlove instinct was absolutely right. Dark, gritty, painful and strong... What Happened That Night is without doubt a story that will crawl under your skin, unsettle you and leave you with an uncomfortable but satisfied feeling after you finish it. Why? Let's just say that there are a lot of trigger warnings in place for the more sensitive readers, including for rape, violence, suicide and graphic scenes in general. If you can stomach those elements, you will find yourself a very interesting thriller in What Happened That Night. The writing style is engaging and I liked the diversity of the main characters and their development. Dahlia is a very strong character with a lot of problems, but I like her style. James is also a favorite, and I appreciate that his Asperger's syndrome plays a role throughout the story. The dynamics between Dahlia and James are interesting as well and is part of the reason this book works. That said, I did have my doubts about the credibility of it all, especially involving the revenge plan  Dahlia and James have developed. I seriously doubt they would be able to get away with all that... And I saw credibility holes in the plot as well. More importantly, I was also able to guess one or two mayor plot twists early on even though I kept hoping I was wrong. That might just be me reading a lot of thrillers in the first place though. Because there is no doubt What Happened That Night is a superfast, dark and twisted thriller that will chill you to the bone.

Wow!!

A woman was drugged and gets raped on campus and doesn't remember a thing, except birds chirping, men in line, laughing, and, of course, the pain. Now, she suffers from PTSD, imagine that.

The last part of this book was killing me. I feared for Dahlia. She was crazy with her revenge. I wanted to holler "you go girl!" so many times but I just couldn't. My fear was so strong for her. That kept me going for like over half of this book.

I'm not going to spoil it for you and tell you what happened. Just know if you have a heart problem, you may want to use caution before picking this book. Because mine was beating like crazy and it kept on until the very end. However, if you like really good suspenseful books, pick this one!

A really good book that would not let me put it down or go to sleep for a while after I finished.

Huge thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Be forewarned: What Happened That Night is a book that is very hard to put down once you start it. It is a compelling, character-driven read.

Five years ago, Dahlia was a student at Harvard ready to go on to law school. All that changed, when she went to a party and was brutally sexually assaulted. While she has no memory of the assault, her physical and emotional trauma was so great that she dropped out of school, losing herself to PTSD.

Stronger now through therapy, Dahlia works as a paralegal. She still struggles with the past, but she is moving on as best she can. Until she finds a group of co-workers in the break-room gathered around a terminal watching her assault online!! Now that she knows what happened to her, she is determined to bring those in the video to justice, and they are just as determined to stop her from doing so. Each ups the ante bit by bit until you want to scream because you can't turn the pages fast enough!!

Block does an excellent job of building the main characters and building suspense. She also is skilled at handling difficult topics such as sexual assault, suicide, Asperger's well. I loved the relationship between Dahlia and Frank!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

I am a big fan of Sandra Block's Zoe Goldman series, so when Sandra herself reached out to me to read and review her latest book, which happens to be a stand-alone, of course I had to say yes! Even though I will forever relate Sandra to Zoe, I had to see how she would do with brand new characters. And I loved it!!!

Before I go any further - I do want to mention there are many trigger warnings in this book. It deals with some rather tough topics that might be off-putting - rape and assault being at the forefront. And it does get a bit graphic at times in certain scenes. It's not the whole book and it certainly doesn't overplay this, but for those who are sensitive to this, you should know this going in.

I loved the way this story was told. There are three points of view - Dahlia in the present, Dahlia five years ago and James, and each of these chapters really give you such perspective as to what is going on. And the chapters are relatively short, which leads to quick reading!

I loved the characters in this book - Dahlia has been profoundly changed by her attack - who wouldn't? - and now that she has started to remember it, wants to do something about it. Having those chapters from five years ago, which was right after her attack, really allow us as readers to see the fragile state she was in and see how far she has come. And then there is James, who has Asperger's and you just have to love him all the more for it. He is what he is, and I love the way Dahlia and James' relationship grew over time. These are such quirky, yet memorable characters - ones that are not your typical main characters in any way, for sure.

This book is full of suspense and tension - now that the video has been leaked from Dahlia's attack, she is determined to figure out who the guys are and do something about it. Did I agree with her idea of revenge, maybe not, but once she and James have decided on this plan, the book takes off! But all along, I loved that there is this secret that James has, and so there are still pieces that need to be worked out. Dahlia is trying to figure out the identity of all four guys and James is working up the courage to reveal something from his past to Dahlia...and all of this is building up the tension in the book.

I truly enjoyed this book...it's such a gripping and addictive read. I really had a hard time putting it down once I started reading it. As much as I love Sandra's Zoe series and hope that there will be more, I think this foray into stand-alones has been quite the success and hope that she continues in this vein as well!

A psychological thriller that will leave the reader turning the pages long into the night, What Happened That Night is the story of Dahlia. Dahlia is a Harvard student who was brutally attacked one night by a group of men and eventually had to leave school. She is now a paralegal suffering from PTSD and has no recollection of the night she was attacked. One day, she walks into the staff lounge to get a cup of coffee and finds lawyers from her firm watching a video. She looks at the screen and there it is- the brutal attack she endured, all caught on film. Now she knows who, and what, they did to her that night that changed her life forever. She begins to exact revenge on the men who hurt her most. This is a fast paced, compelling read but it is hard to read at times as it deals with very hard topics. I quite enjoyed watching Dahlia overcome what happened to her and take control over the situation. The revenge tactics were a bit far fetched for me, yet I couldn't put the book down. With excellent character development and just the right amount of suspense, What Happened That Night was a great story of redemption. For me, this was ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars. Thank you @sourcebooks for this advance reader in exchange for my honest review. This book hits shelves today!

What Happened That Night by Sandra Block

Mixed feelings on this book…I can see it appealing to New Adult readers wanting a young woman who has been raped to achieve revenge against the group of men that attacked her BUT I am not sure how I feel about what she chose to do to the men to extract that revenge. The way Dahlia and James went about achieving her revenge seemed hard to believe and their relationship was difficult for me to understand. It was an unsettling book and I am still sitting on the fence as to how I feel about it right now.

Did I like it? Not sure
Was it well written? First person point of view of James and Dahlia with flashbacks – Style fine –
Was it believable? Not to me
Would I read another book by this author? Perhaps

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3 Stars

I am all for diversity in books and am very happy to see the inclusion of non-normative characters. The world is full of a variety of people and I feel our stories should reflect them. That being said, I felt like this story had a list of the different types of people that needed to be included to check all the boxes. Ms. Block's writing style was good and she built up the story well. There was one part I was very unhappy with and would have preferred being left out, but other than that and some very over the top and unbelievable antics, it was a good story. A well done flip from #metoo to #FU.

This book bounces between 3 different viewpoints- Dahlia, Dahlia 5 years ago and James. Sandra Block defense knows how to keep you guessing. I would have liked a little more detail at parts. And somethings didn’t work for me, like the length of the video. I just have a hard time believing everything that is supposed to have happened, did happen within that time frame. Or how easy it was for Dahlia and James to do what they did. Or how Dahlia thought she would be able to just walk into the party and find what she was looking for. My heart broke for Dahlia when she found out who the 4th guy was. There were so many different parts that in the end, fit together like a puzzle. While reading, you think ‘what does this have to do with the story?’ Then once it’s revealed, it makes sense. I gave this book 4 stars because like I said previously, I would have like a little more detail and those parts that didn’t quite make sense.

One moment Dahlia is a successful Havard student. The next, she wakes up from a party, the victim of a brutal assault.

When a young, happy, carefree girl goes to a party, she is brutally attacked. When she wakes up she can't remember who it was that attacked her. Five years later, she still struggles with panic attacks and nightmares. She dropped out of Havard and now works as a paralegal. Dahlia two friends, Daisy and Eli, have always supported her. Eli even goes to the support groups with her. She met and has formed a strong friendship with James who also attends the support group. Then, a video surfaces online, and Dahlia sees her attack for the first time. She now knows exactly what happened to her.

I really liked the characters James and Dahlia, and the strong friendship they formed. The story is also told from their point of view. The chapters are short. The sexual assault part in this story is quite graphic and therefore might not be suitable or might upset some readers. This is a well written book but I did feel the ending was a bit rushed.

I would like to thank NetGalley, SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and the author Sandra Block for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What Happened That Night is the tale of a night when a senior at Harvard university is being gang raped. There are three points of view: Dahlia 5 years ago, Dahlia today and James today. James is a guy who works in IT in the firm of lawyers where Dahlia works as a paralegal. James doesn’t have many friends due to his Aspergers but he and Dahlia click. This is a down to earth story of something unimaginable but is written in a way that you can almost imagine yourself there. It’s very explicit and if you shy away from that you should probably not read the book. I completely loved it and happily recommend this book to others and I thank #NetGalley for giving me the book in exchange for my unbiased review. Great job to the author #SandraBlock. 5 stars!

Excellent...... Well written, engaging and captivating story. I didn't want to put it down.... A few twists that were unexpected. Cant wait to read more from Sandra Block

Many thanks go to Sandra Block, Sourcebooks, and Netgalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review. You know at first this book was only so-so, but now I can’t put it down! I love the James Dahlia dynamic, and the Ramona/Robert mini plot is heartbreaking If it weren’t for the author seeming to blatantly ruin her own twists. I’d have rated it higher There is one conversation that could be rewritten or the story in someway edit the book so that a HUGE plot twist is not spoiled. That was really disappointing. There has to be a way to do that. Otherwise I highly support the revenge angle. I love strong female characters who take no crap. All in all I'd say I'd recommend this book to other readers.

Trigger warning: rape and assault.

This is a revenge novel, pure and simple.

Five years ago, Dahlia had a promising future. She was a pre-law Harvard student. She had her whole life under control. Until she went to a campus party, and everything was ripped away from her. She stopped going to school, grappled with depression, and settled for a job as a paralegal. She trusts no men except Eli, her bestie. Until she meets James. Until she sees a video of what happened to her that night, and James volunteers to help her get revenge.

Both Dahlia and James are very compelling characters, and of course I was rooting for Dahlia the whole time. I did feel that some of the things they did were implausible (although I’m in no way an expert), but it didn’t hinder my reading experience at all. And I guessed the big twist almost right away, but that didn’t bother me either.

All in all, a very good read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc.

I really enjoyed Sandra Block's Zoe Goldman series, and Dahlia -- the main character in Sandra's first standalone, What Happened That Night -- was definitely likeable. I did appreciate a person with Asperger's experiencing a romantic relationship. Sandra throws a lot in here... including a transgender character. The story had me suspecting several other characters, and I totally did not guess the "twist." In addition, this story is not for the faint of heart, containing graphic scenes of rape. But those particular scenes are written well, and you can't help but wish for revenge and justice to be done. Thank you, Netgalley, for this arc!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. While the story kept my attention, the subject matter was slightly disturbing. With that said, I don't know if I would recommend this book unless you can mentally handle the material topic.

I could not put this novel down. This book is not only character driven, but also plot driven - a powerful duo.

I want to be best friends with Dahlia, the protagonist. I want to go back in time and save her from this horrible night in her life. The heartbreaking detail Block uses to recount the attack in a series of "five years ago" flashbacks forces the reader into a full immersion of the atrocities committed against her. It's uncomfortable and painful, and it should be!

But Dahlia is a survivor and I love that about her, I appreciated the way Block allowed the reader to understand the devastation that happened and what it did to Dahlia, but then invited us into her recovery and the process of dealing with her PTSD. And then - the best part...her revenge! I know we aren't supposed to support revenge and the "good" side of my brain says we shouldn't, but man - it was satisfying to watch the play out of Dahlia's come back. But she didn't go it alone and I think that is also a favorite part for me - enter James.

James works with Dahlia at the law firm where she could have been a lawyer until her life went off track and she became a paralegal with the help of her best friend Eli (I cannot go into details about Eli - I just can't...READ!!). James works in IT and he struggles with social interactions because he is Aspergers, a high functioning form of Autism. But, James is fascinated by Dahlia. They meet at a support group for Survivors of Suicide (S.O.S), Dahlia for herself, James for his sister. He already knows who she is and despite his social struggles, he reaches out to her. They form a mutually beneficial friendship that is sweet and caring and everything you want for both of them.

It is so hard to write about this novel and not plot spoil, because it's just so so so good!

Block tackles some really tough topics in the tale: rape, suicide, transgender/gay issues, police bias, religion, and Autism. Yes - it's all in there and I believe tactfully and correctly done. Nothing is overpowering or steals the focus from Dahlia - but the conflicts in these other elements seamlessly blend into the overall story arc portrayed. Block's approach to all of this is sensitive and raw and necessary.

I highly recommend What Happened That Night as a MUST READ! 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷It was a thriller, love story, and coming of age (in a unique way) all in one. I cannot shout it loud enough: READ THIS NOVEL!!!

I could not put this book down.

Dahlia was a gifted, promising Harvard student who was raped and then attempted suicide. She doesn't remember the details of the rape, so campus security did not take the situation seriously and no disciplinary action was taken against her rapists. One day at work, she overhears her make co-workers saying, "it has to be her" as they are crowded around a phone watching a video online. She realizes they are talking about her, finds the video online and the missing pieces fall into place. She is jaded by her experience with the law regarding the rape when it happened and she is influenced by the comments on the online video saying she was asking for it, girls should not do certain things and basically blaming her for the rape, so she and her friend James take matters into their own hands.

This book was extremely timely, political and important. We need to change the culture surrounding rape. It is NEVER ok to force a woman to do anything she doesn't want to do. This is an important book.

A psychological thriller that hits a lot of topical notes. Not only was Dahlia assaulted, the rape was filmed and now it's on line. That's the set up for this fast paced novel that sometimes adds too much but never flags. Dahia has terrible PTSD but she does have a nice relationship with James, whose Aspergers is well described. There are some twists and turns as Dahlia seeks out revenge- making it hard to review without spoilers. Thanks to Netgalley. This is fairly dark but it's good fast read.

Sandra Block is a writer to watch! Superb thriller that hooks the reader with well-defined characters.

Dahlia was gang raped years ago and now a video has surfaced . This story was brilliantly written with dramatic storytelling ! You won't soon forget this book ! It gets right under your skin ! Sandra Block is a remarkable storyteller ! Thanks to #Netgalley and #SourcebooksLandmark for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review ! #WhatHappenedThatNight